ORDERS LOCKED* Cases and other parts have been ordered, so please no major changes!

STILL CAN BE ORDERED* Everything. I have ordered extra keyboards and parts for the early bird round, which will be ongoing while supplies last. Then there will be a final round for about a month after the early bird keyboards are delivered.

Only new parts will be used - not New Old Stock or used part pulls from other keyboards (you can use your original IBM/Lexmark/Unicomp caps - they will be compatible)Metal top and metal bottom case, like the originalMetal top and metal bottom inner "sandwich" plates with interlocking tabs, like the originalModel F barrels and full-size capacitive flippers, all injection molded for accuracy/durability (not 3D printed)2 mm foam like in my original F77Ships fully assembled at no extra charge - no further soldering will be required. You will put on the feet though!Cork-rubber feet, plus a small selection of rubber feet (cork-rubber feet like the PC XT Model F keyboard)Top and bottom case powdercoated in a color similar to the original "off white/beige" color, black, or similar to industrial gray (or you can pick your own color and pay extra for tooling)New buckling springs made to original Model F spring tolerances (ideally)Keys to be sourced from Unicomp (or you can provide your own keys). To use brand new one-piece dye sub keys instead, someone else would need to take on production of the keys.Layouts can be adjusted at the factory, or you can adjust them later for international versionsMetal tabs attached to the top inner assembly for the Model M style spacebar stabilizer wire - no plastic pieces like in the originalPacked like a new keyboard: in two custom white EPS foam shells and in a close-fitting brown double-walled cardboard boxFully assembled in China10 foot monoprice USB cable with ferrite coreExtra barrels (AT-style) and capacitive flippers will be produced and made available for purchase separately (for other projects and for replacement parts)Any other suggestions?

After everyone interested has placed their order and sent payment, please be aware that it will be several months before your order arrives.

Working Prototype photos:

Ultra Compact Case:

Last edited by Ellipse on 23 Jun 2018, 20:11, edited 27 times in total.

Also: shipping heavy boards around is especially likely to attract customs eye. I'd much rather ship components than great hulks.

send it to a proxy and pay them in the parts you don't want to rip it apart. ( talking of parts i have just parted out a junker of a blue model M from IBM UK anyone need any parts ( mainly did it for springs to experiment with a model F , and some inserts for my 122 #2 )I need to ask unicomp if they can do 1 part caps never did get around to it

its there barrel inserts that are crap there caps are fine at least for the APL set i have

In for a 62-key if you can get the price point to the expected level. Seems like a long shot with the amount of tooling required? Will these be milled cases or cast like the originals? What material? I'm very worried about skimping on quality for what seems to me like a ton of manufacturing...

Ellipse wrote:After everyone interested has placed their order and sent payment (after pricing has been finalized), please be aware that production could take a month or maybe even a few months.

I would assume that production would take longer. We do know that you have owned the original and therefore know the very high quality build which would be a critical factor for me. Do you really think you can "approach" that quality?

Andrew-barrels will be injection molded, not 3d printed. I have specified they be smooth plastic. I will send them photos or maybe a spare barrel when I choose my manufacturer.

The expansion header will be present so it should be possible to add your own solenoid, buzzer, or LED lights.

No labels but it would be great if someone could take that on. Maybe a text based silver label with no logo.

Pr0ximity - the case will be die cast like the original if the tooling is not out of reach, or maybe CNC milled. I am considering standard powder coated zinc like the original or maybe anodized aluminum.

Regarding a prototype, yes I will be getting a prototype to make sure the parts fit. Not to worry, they will adjust the tooling if something does not fit. I have incorporated standard manufacturing tolerances into my designs and have done a preliminary CAD assembly. But for some parts there cannot be a prototype made without tooling done, like for anything injection molded. I may order prototypes for just the main parts like top and bottom cover and top and bottom inner assembly and then test it with some of my existing F77 parts like barrels and flippers.

Seebart-yes it should be very high quality but nothing will ever be 100% the same as the original. China does not only make low end stuff nowadays. My contacts contract manufacture many of the industrial products designed by American companies. When you take an F77 apart it is built of standard components like zinc and steel formed with standard manufacturing processes like injection molding, die casting, slip rolling, and other metal forming. The original design had relatively wide tolerances compared to what could be achieved by modern manufacturing techniques today, so I have this extra leeway built into the design.

If you can actually get manufacturers to produce the various individual parts (PCB, barrel plate, barrels, flippers, etc.), I think it only makes sense to offer the individual parts for sale to help mitigate fixed costs and meet MOQs.